tips, hints, and strategies for building effective...
TRANSCRIPT
2550 NE Butler Market Rd. Bend, OR 97701
541-382-1850 www.saints.org
Trinity Lutheran High School
Tips, Hints, and
Strategies for Building
Effective, Efficient, and
Successful Study Habits
How to Study for Mathematics
Asking Questions Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Any question is better than no question if you are confused or don’t understand. But a good question will allow for a better response, answer, and explanation. Not too helpful comment: “I don’t understand this
section”. Much more helpful comments: “I don’t understand why…
I don’t understand the steps that are taken to… I don’t understand how…”
*Advice – be as specific as possible in order to understand the particular concept or skill that you are confused about.
Not too helpful question: “How do I do #...” Much more helpful questions: “Can you show me how to
set up #? This is how I tried to do #, where did I go wrong? After this step in #, can you guide me to the next step?”
*Advice – Focus your questions on your own thought processes. Ask specific questions about techniques and skills that will carry over to more problems, not just one particular problem.
Using Available Resources
Ask questions in class. You get help and stay actively involved in the class.
Set up brief meetings with Ms. Fowls before or after school or during your lunch break.
Ask for help from other students who are either in your class or who have successfully completed the course.
Search the infinite number of online resources: websites, videos, tutorials, etc…
Find a private tutor if necessary.
Steps for Studying for a Math Test Start by going over each lesson, reviewing your
notes and checking that you can still do the homework problems that were assigned for that lesson. Actually work the problems again. Use the examples in the book or your notes…cover up the solutions and work the problems yourself. Check your work against the solutions given.
Try to explain out loud, in your own words, how each strategy for problem solving in the chapter you’re studying will be used.
Put yourself in a test-like situation. Work problems from review sections, old tests and quizzes, online textbook site, or other web resources.
Start studying early. Don’t wait until the night before the day of the test or quiz to cram.
Get plenty of sleep before the test.
Taking a Math Test
Look over the entire test. Try to identify the problems that you definitely know how to do right away and those that may take you more time to think about.
Do the problems in the order that suits you! Start with problems that you know for sure you can do. Then move on to the problems that may take you longer to solve.
Read all the directions carefully. Make sure you answer all parts of each problem, label when necessary and verify that the answers you get make sense given the context of the problem.
Don’t give up on a several-part problem just because you can’t do the first part. Attempt the other parts to avoid losing points for leaving a problem blank.
Show all your work on the problems that require it.
Check your answers when you finish and if you have time.
Ms. Jessie Fowls
TLHS Math Teacher
Common Study Techniques
Making a checklist of all the topics that you need to study
Writing study notes or typing study notes
Researching topics you don’t understand well enough
Making diagrams and flow-charts of relevant processes
Consolidating study notes
Utilizing practice tests, online review resources, study guides, etc…
Using flash cards, highlighting notes, and listing vocabulary, definitions, formulas.
Active Study vs. Passive Study
Be actively involved in your learning!!
Take responsibility for your studying.
Recognize what you know and what you don’t.
Ask for help and assistance as often as you need to.
Take complete and accurate notes.
Pay attention and be an active participant in class.
Ask questions in class.
Good study habits throughout the year make it much easier
to study for tests!
Studying can be overwhelming. There are so many pieces to the puzzle. Different subjects, essays to write, facts to memorize, formulas to figure out, slides to look over, websites to check out, books to read, notes to review…and the list goes on!! You are expected to juggle all of these things at once during the school year. It is no wonder that you may feel overwhelmed, confused, or burned out. There is good news!! To have the best chance of success in high school, it is essential to develop a study strategy. Students who are successful follow a process when they study. They follow certain steps. They stick to a pattern. Students who find success apply their study strategy every time they study. Each student has his or her own strategy and it is imperative that you find your own.
Studying Math is Different than Studying Other Subjects
Math is learned by doing! Do the homework. The
problems help you learn the skills, concepts, formulas, and techniques you need to know.
“Bad News” Each class builds on the previous ones,
all year long. You must keep up: attend class, read the text and do the assigned homework. Don’t wait to ask for help. Don’t get behind.
“Good News” Each class builds on the previous
ones, all year long. You will always be reviewing previous material as you learn new material. Many of the concepts and skills get used over and over again which means that repetition will help you learn instead of just memorizing.
Studying for a Math Test
Do the homework! On tests you have to solve problems:
homework problems are the only way to get practice. As you do homework, make lists of formulas and techniques to use later when you study for the test.
Ask questions as they arise. Don’t wait
until the day or two before the test. The questions you ask right before a test should be to clear up minor details.
Everyday study is a big part of test preparation.